Thank you for the story on the “Don’t believe in God?” billboard alongside Interstate 8 (“Billboard gets word to nonbelievers / Nontheists looking to raise their profile,” B-1, Nov. 12). Regarding Bob Siegel, a church member who was interviewed and said he didn’t find the billboard offensive, also said this: “But I do see a double standard from the atheists. They can put up a sign like that, but during Christmas, if a manger goes on public land, they act like their civil liberties are being taken away.”

Where is the double standard? A billboard on private land is not equivalent in any way to a religious display on public land. I’m not sure it was good reporting to let that stand without comment but I could be wrong.

JIM SHORT

Fallbrook

Bob Siegel accuses atheists of holding a double standard (“Billboard aims to raise profile of nonbelievers,” Nov. 12). “They can put up a sign like that, but during Christmas, if a manger goes on public land, they act like their civil liberties are being taken away.”

The critical distinction between a crèche on public land and an atheistic billboard on private land is not that one is Christian and the other supports atheism. The important difference is that one is on public land and the other is not. That is what makes the first an unconstitutional violation of the separation of church and state, and the second a constitutionally protected expression of free speech.

EVERETT HOWE

Rancho Peñasquitos

As an nonbeliever, I say “It’s about time!” Christians often put up billboards (they have plenty of money to do so) and no one says a word. How is this different?

I’ve never heard of the San Diego Coalition of Reason, but would proudly contribute to the cost. Other groups such as American Atheists and Freedom From Religion Foundation do similar things, but not in this area. It probably won’t change any minds, but at least it lets people know there are folks who believe differently. That’s the beauty of America.

MARY ANDERSON

San Diego

I must admit that I laughed as I saw the photo of the nontheists’ billboard and smiled the whole way through John Wilkens’ article. How ironic that the message conveyed by the billboard is confirmed by one of my favorite passages from Psalms.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” Ps. 139:7-10

So here’s my message to the nontheists: You finally got something right – you are not alone!

VALERIE BALCOMBE

Poway

I admire the people from the San Diego Coalition of Reason who created the campaign to enhance awareness of a secular world view, and to support those of us who do not believe in god but who hold a reasoned and science-based view of our universe. No doubt in the coming days your editorial pages will be inundated with letters from “believers” who will somehow take offense to any articulation of a world view sans an improbable and unprovable deity and based on untested and unquestioned propositions.